Roger Ebert Responds to Claims of Being Attacked at Toronto Film Festival

Posted by on September 12th, 2008   Filed under: Festival Coverage, Gossip
Source: /Film

There’s a weird story that’s been going around this week about Roger Ebert getting “attacked” by a fellow film critic at a screening of Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire at the Toronto Film Festival. It was first reported in the New York Daily News, where it was revealed that the person who did the attacking was Lou Lumenick of the New York Post. I was disappointed to learn however, that this wasn’t a fist fight or back alley beatdown, but rather Lumenick merely “smacked him with a rolled-up binder”.

Apparently it was a misunderstanding of sorts; Ebert was sitting behind him and couldn’t see the subtitles, so he tapped him on the shoulder to ask him to move. Unfortunately, due to his cancer surgery, he can no longer speak, so Lumenick must have thought someone was just pestering him. He loudly yelled “Don’t touch me!”, before eventually turning around smacking Ebert on the knee with his binder. What a drama queen.

Ebert has since verified the account as being “basically accurate”, and added some additional comments on his blog:

“I think the guy was wrong. A film critic of all people should be respectful of the sight-lines of fellow audience members. But in one way I feel sorry for him. He had no idea who was behind him when he smacked me. Now it looked like he was picking on poor me. I have had my problems, but I promise you I am plenty hearty enough to withstand a smack, and quite happy, after the smack, to tap him again. I had to see those subtitles. There was no pain. The incident is over. Peace.”

Good ol’ Ebert.



  • Greg

    I swear it wasn’t me.

  • The guy who did that is the definition of a douchebag

  • Primal

    Can you guys tell us if any of the theaters at TIFF used stadium seating theaters? I don’t think I can fully enjoy the theater experience if the seats can’t recline and the people right in front of me can’t be seen. I guess we are bit spoiled down here at our theaters.

  • The new AMC theatre had some screenings, and that has stadium seating. But most of the movies were playing at older theatres that definitely don’t have stadium seating.

  • I heard that the guy who hit Ebert was charged with assault. Is that true?

    I suppose I could do an Internet search, but I won’t know who to believe.

    I think Ebert should have kept his hands to himself.

    Theatres are the worst places to see movies. That’s why I wait for movies to come out on DVD so I can watch them in the comfort of my own home. If everyone stayed home, maybe movies would come out on DVD right away when they open.

    I know Ebert is one of those people that says movies should be seen on a big screen. Try sitting three feet away from the television. Now that’s a big screen.

    And some people say that movies should be enjoyed with the company of other people as part of the movie-going experience. Hogwash! Audience members are just annoying.

    Who’s with me on this?

  • Reed,

    I love seeing movies in the theater for the big screen, big audio experience. And it does feel like you’re taking part in a cultural event that’s more tangible than watching the movie at home. I do agree that certain films are not conducive to a raucous audience. But I think some definitely are, and I’ve had plenty of movie experiences throughout the years that were enhanced by the loud, chatty audience: Beavis and Butthead, Final Destination 2, Soul Plane …

  • Mike

    Peace??

    lol

  • You know that picture makes me feel good knowing he’s happy and okay… but it’s kind of disturbing as well.

  • Henrik

    The theatre is the best experience. The only thing that sucks is the audience. Quit your job, get wellfare, and go to 10am showings and the like. Your view on theatres will change drastically.

    It’s not the theatres that are the problem, it’s the fucking human beings, wrecking our existence. Reed, I know we agree on this.